NIP/TUCK SEASON 3 PREMIERE DELIVERS BEAUTIFUL RATINGS

92-Minute Opener Posts 4.4 HH Rating, 5.3 Million Viewers and 3.7 Million Adults 18-49

FX's Golden Globe� Award Winning Drama Records Most Viewers and Adults 18-49 of an Episode of Any Series on FX

Last Night's Episode of Nip/Tuck Beats Every Primetime Program on ABC, UPN and The WB in Pure Delivery of Adults 18-49

Ranks as Cable TV's #1 Single Episode in Delivery of Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 in 2005-to-Date

Season 3 Premiere Episode Repeats this Friday (9/23) and Sunday (9/25) from 10-11:32 PM

LOS ANGELES, September 21, 2005 - Basic cable's top-rated Adults 18-49 series picked up where it left off last year, as last night's (Sept. 20th, 10-11:32 PM) third season premiere of Nip/Tuck (TV-MA) delivered a 4.4 household rating, 5.3 million total viewers and 3.7 million Adults 18-49, which are the most total viewers and Adults 18-49 of an episode of any series ever televised by FX.

Last night marks the first time FX has ever premiered one of its scripted series in a new broadcast season, but Nip/Tuck clearly held its own in the face of that competition. In pure delivery of Adults 18-49 (despite a more than 20 million home distribution gap), last night's episode of Nip/Tuck outperformed every primetime program on broadcast networks ABC (According to Jim, Dancing With The Stars: Dance-Off, Wife Swap), UPN (America's Next Top Model, R U The Girl: Finale) and The WB (Gilmore Girls, Supernatural).

The season three opener of the 2005 Golden Globe� Award winning drama Nip/Tuck totaled the highest number of Adults 18-49 (3.7 million) and Adults 25-54 (3.5 million) of any episode of a series on cable television in 2005 (basic or pay cable).

Tuesday night's episode outperformed the season two debut by +22% in HH rating (3.6 HH rating); +39% in total viewers (5.3 million vs. 3.8 million); and +37% in Adults 18-49 (3.7 million vs. 2.7 million). The previous episodic program high for FX was the second season finale of Nip/Tuck (10/5/04) with 5.2 million total viewers and 3.6 million Adults 18-49.

Last night's two-telecast gross audience of Nip/Tuck (premiere at 10-11:32 PM and encore at 11:33 PM-1:05 AM) totaled 6.9 million total viewers and 4.8 million Adults 18-49. Last night's audience composition was 55% women, 45% men, and 91% of the total audience was 18+. The median age was 38.3.

In primetime (8-11PM) FX was basic cable's #1 ranked network with an average of 3 million total viewers; 2 million Adults 18-49; 1.8 million Adults 25-54; and 1 million Adults 18-34. The lead-in for Nip/Tuck, the basic cable premiere of Phone Booth starring Colin Farrell (8-10 PM), posted a solid 1.7 million total viewers and 1.1 million Adults 18-49.

FX will run repeat telecasts of the Nip/Tuck third season premiere episode this Friday (9/23) and Sunday (9/25) from 10-11:32 PM.

In next Tuesday's second episode "Kiki" (Airs Tuesday, September 27, 10 PM), Christian (Julian McMahon) and Liz (Roma Maffia) perform cosmetic surgery on an extraordinary ape to help her chances of reproducing. After learning that Ava (Famke Janssen) is a transgender woman, Matt (John Hensley) questions his own sexuality and heads down a dark path. Tensions escalate at McNamara/Troy as Sean (Dylan Walsh) and Quentin (Bruno Campos), against Christian's wishes, remove the tattoos of a gang member who wants to go straight. (Written by Lyn Greene & Richard Levine and Directed by Elodie Keene)

Nip/Tuck stars Dylan Walsh, Julian McMahon, Joely Richardson, John Hensley, Roma Maffia, Bruno Campos, Kelly Carlson and Jessalyn Gilsig. Former guest stars Vanessa Redgrave and Joan Rivers will return again this season, and Rhona Mitra will also guest star in several episodes.

Nip/Tuck was created and is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, who also writes and directs many episodes. Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin are executive producers. Nip/Tuck is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions Inc.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 86 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of distinctive original series including award-winning series The Shield, Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other major studios; an impressive roster of acquired hit series; and NASCAR.

NIP/TUCK RATINGS HISTORY

Season 1 Premiere(7/22/03)
HH Rating: 3.2
Total Viewers: 3.7 million
Adults 18-49: 2.0 million

Season 2 Premiere (6/22/04)
HH Rating:3.6
Total Viewers:3.8 million
Adults 18-49: 2.7 million

Season 3 Premiere (9/20/05)
HH Rating: 4.4
Total Viewers: 5.3 million
Adults 18-49: 3.7 million

Season 1 Finale (10/21/03)
HH Rating: 2.7
Total Viewers: 3.0 million
Adults 18-49: 2.1 million

Season 2 Finale (10/5/04)
HH Rating: 4.5
Total Viewers: 5.2 million
Adults 18-49: 3.6 million

Season 1 High (9/23/03)
HH Rating: 3.5
Total Viewers: 3.7 million
Adults 18-49: 2.7 million

Season 2 High (10/5/04)
HH Rating: 4.5
Total Viewers: 5.2 million
Adults 18-49: 3.6 million

Season 1 Average (7/22/03--10/21/03)
HH Rating: 3.0
Total Viewers: 3.3 million
Adults 18-49: 2.2 million$

Season 2 Average (6/22/04--10/5/04)
HH Rating: 3.2
Total Viewers: 3.8 million
Adults 18-49: 2.6 million@

series highs in boldface
$ - basic cable's #1 series in delivery of Adults 18-49 in CY 2003 (tie with The Shield)
@ - basic cable's #1 series in delivery of Adults 18-49 in CY 2004

Source: Nielsen Media Research, NHI, as dated